Inside pipe burr removal tool

ABSTRACT

Tool includes a frame having a substantially U-shape opening adjacent one edge for receiving the wall of a welded pipe having an inside burr therealong. The tool is adapted to be suspended in vertical position from an overhead support for movement toward and away from the interior of the end of a pipe and includes a reciprocating tool carriage mounted in its U-shape opening. The carriage is attached to and powered by a pressure fluid cylinder, mounted on the frame, for movement along a way in the U-shape opening. A cutter projects from the tool carriage and is adapted to remove the burr when the tool carriage is moved from a position adjacent the open end of the U-shape opening to a position inwardly of the open end of the opening. A pair of fluid cylinder actuated shoes is provided on the frame for engaging the outer contour of the pipe so as to clamp it between the pair of shoes and another pair of shoes which depend from the tool carriage and engage the inner contour of the pipe astride the burr. Thus the pipe is firmly held when the cutting tool is moved to cut away the end portion of the inside burr.

United States Patent [191 Pitts et al.

[ INSIDE PIPE BURR REMOVAL TOOL [75] Inventors: Ralph W. Pitts, PleasantGrove; McKinley B. Thomas, Orem, both of Utah United States SteelCorporation, Pittsburgh, Pa.

22 Filed: Nov. 1, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 194,277

[73] Assignee:

[52] U.S. Cl. ..90/24 B, 15/104,16, 90/38 A [51] Int. Cl. ..B23d 1/16[58] Field ofSearch 15/93 R, 104.03,

l5/104.05, 104.16; 29/81 R,8l J, 29/81G;83/178,184, 188,191, 914; 90/24B, 24 R, 38 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,927,3919/1933 Coberly et a] ..90/24 B 3,331,286 7/1967 Berquist ,.90/24 BPrimary Examiner-Edward L. Roberts AttorneyDonald S. Ferito [451 Mar.27, 1973 57] ABSTRACT Tool includes a frame having a substantiallyU'shape opening adjacent one edge for receiving the wall of a weldedpipe having an inside burr therealong. The tool is adapted to besuspended in vertical position from an overhead support for movementtoward and away from the interior of the end of a pipe and includes areciprocating tool carriage mounted in its U-shape opening. The carriageis attached to and powered by a 1 pressure fluid cylinder, mounted onthe frame, for movement along a way in the U-shape opening. A cutterprojects from the tool carriage and is adapted -to remove the burr whenthe tool carriage is moved from a position adjacent the open end of theU-shape opening to a position inwardly of the open end of the opening. Apair of fluid cylinder actuated shoes is provided on the frame forengaging the outer contour of the pipe so as to clamp it between thepair of shoes and another pair of shoes which depend from the toolcarriage and engage the inner contour of the pipe astride the burr. Thusthe pipe is firmly held when the cutting tool is moved to cut away theend portion of the inside burr;

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUmzmra SHEET 30F 4 FIG. 4.

INSIDE PIPE BURR REMOVAL TOOL The present invention relates generally todeburring tools and more particularly to a powered de-burring toolespecially suitable for removing a portion of the inside burr of largediameter welded pipe adjacent the end thereof so as to facilitate theplacement of aligning devices for subsequent pipe joining operations.

As is well known in the art, large diameter pipe of approximately20-inch diameter or larger is made from steel plate formed by hydraulicpresses and welded into a cylinder open on both ends. The weldingprocess usually utilizes a submerged arc with a continuous wire feedwhich leaves a burr or bead on the inside of the pipe extending alongthe length thereof. In order to prepare such pipe for subsequentcoupling operations, it has been the usual practice to removeapproximately 7 inches of the weld burr from the inner surface of eachend of the pipe by using hand chipping tools and grind ing wheels.Obviously, this method of removing the end portion of the weld burr orbead was not only time consuming and consequently expensive but alsodangerous as well.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a power tool forremoving the insideweld burr or bead at the end of a large diameter pipeand thus eliminate the slow and expensive hand labor methods heretoforeused.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a tool forremoving the inside burr from the end of a welded pipe which toolcomprises a rigid frame made up of two spaced substantially C-shapeplates held together in parallel spaced relation by welded bars. Theopening of the C-plates is provided with a liner plate welded to theC-plates. The liner plate is substantially U-shape in structure and isprovided with a hole in its lower horizontal portion and in its verticalportion. The frame is suspended from an overhead support for movementtherealong with its opening directed along the path of movement of theframe. A first pair of shoe members is mounted on the frame below theU-shape plate connected with a fluid pressure cylinder for movement toandfrom the opening in the bottom portion of the U-shape liner plate.The shoe members are provided with an arcuate upper surface for engagingthe outer contour of a pipe end received in the opening of the frame. Atool carriage is mounted in a way attached to the upper horizontalportion of the liner plate for longitudinal reciprocal movement in theframe opening. Thecarriage carries a cutting tool projecting downwardlytherefrom for engaging and cutting away the burr on the inside of thepipe. A second pair of shoes each having an arcuate surface forcontacting the inner contour of the pipe depends from the carriage inspaced parallel relation one on each side of the burr. The way isconstructed so that the wheel-mounted carriage is elevated when thecarriage is moved in the direction outwardly of the liner so that thecutting tool is disengaged from the burr when the carriage is inposition toward the open end of the liner. On inward movement of thecarriage relative to the open end of the liner, the cutter tool engagesthe burr and cuts it away from the inner wall of the pipe. A fluidpressure cylinder is connected with aflange depending from the inwardend of the carriage for moving the same along the way.

These and other objects will become more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the tool of the invention showingthe tool suspended from an overhead beam for horizontal traveltherealong;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view looking at the right side of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical-sectional view taken substantially alongthe line III--III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical-sectional view taken substantially alongthe line IVIV of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal-sectional view taken substantially along theline V-V of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical-sectional view taken substantially along the lineVI-VI of FIG. 5.

Referring more particularly for the time being to FIGS. 1 and 2,reference numeral 2 designates generally the frame of the inventionwhich is made up of two C-shape plates 4 spaced apart by bars 6 and 8which are welded to the respective plates 4. The frame 2 is bolted to asupporting bracket 10 by means of bolts 12 which fit in elongated slots14 in the supporting bracket 10. The elongated slots 14 provide forhorizontal adjustment of the bolts so that the frame 2 may be maintainedin a stable horizontal position. The upper portion of the supportingbracket 10 is provided with flange wheels 16 which are mounted formovement along an overhead H-beam 18.

A U-shape liner plate is welded into the openings of the C-shape plates4, as best shown in FIG. 1. The liner plate 20 provides structuralrigidity to the frame as well as support for a tool carriage assembly,designated generally by reference numeral 22, and a lower pipe engagingshoe assembly, designated generally by reference numeral 24. As will beapparent from FIG. 1, the frame 2 is adapted to move along the overheadbeam 18 to receive an end of a pipe P within the U-shape liner plate 20between the. carriage assembly 22 and the bottom shoe assembly 24.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, the bottom shoe assembly, designatedgenerally by reference numeral 24, includes a hole 26 in the lowerhorizontal portion of the liner plate 20 flanked by a pair of downwardlydepending plates 28. The plates 28 are connected at their bottom ends byan I-beam 30 having a drilled bearing block 32 on its upper surfaceadapted to pivotally support, by means of a pin 38, the bifurcated headend 34 ofa hydraulic cylinder 36.

Bearing blocks 40 which are bifurcated and drilled are welded to theplates 4 and the liner 20 on opposing ends of the lower horizontalportion of the liner plate 20 and, as best shown in FIG. I, extendupwardly above the surface of the lower horizontal portion of the liner.Gussets 42 welded to the plates 4 and blocks 40 serve as stiffeningmembers.

A platen member 44 is mounted above the bottom horizontal leg of theliner 20 by means of a pair of links 46 one on each side ofthe platen44, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The links are pivotally connected atone end with the platen 44 by means of a pin 48 which extends throughthe end of the platen disposed inwardly of the liner 20. The oppositeendsof the links 46 are attached one to each of the bearing blocks 40 bymeans of a pin 50. The piston rod 52 of the cylinder 36 is pivotallymounted on the pin 48 centrally the width of the platen 44.

A pair of pipe contacting shoes 54R and 54L are bolted to the platen inspaced parallel relationship and project upwardly therefrom, as bestshown in FIG. 3. The shoes 54R and 54L have arcuate faces conforming tothe outer contour of the pipe P. The shoes 54R and 54L are elongated andat their inner ends, as viewed in FIG. 1, are each formed with a raisedstop member 56, the function of which will become apparent hereinafter.It will be understood that different sizes of shoes will be required fordifferent pipe sizes. The replacement of the shoes 54R and 54L isfacilitated by the bolt connection means with the platen, as best shownin FIG. 3. The shoes 54R and 54L are maintained in registered positionby means of a key 58 which extends across the width of the platen 44 andis interlocked with both the platen and the shoes. As best shown in FIG.1, it will be noted that since the platen 44 is pivoted about the pin48, the platen normally assumes a canted position. As the frame 2 ismoved into operating position, the stops 56 on the ends of the shoescontact the end of the pipe causing the platen 44 to rotate into ahorizontal position bringing shoes 54R and 54L into full contact withthe outer surface of the pipe. A stop-bar 60 on the liner plate servesto establish a minimum cant to the platen 44.

The carriage assembly, designated generally by reference numeral 22,includes an elongated carriage way 62 bolted to the upper horizontalportion 20b of the liner 20 which has a substantially rectangular crosssection and extends longitudinally of the liner 20. The carriage way 62includes a top portion 64, two opposing sidewalls 66 and end walls 68. Apair of cam surfaces 70 are bolted to the top 64, one adjacent each ofthe sidewalls 66. The ends 72 of each of the cam surfaces 70 adjacentthe open end of the liner 20 are directed upwardly for a purpose whichwill become apparent. The carriage way 62 also includes a bottom plate74 which is formed with a center slot 76. An elongated tool carriage 78having a pair of spaced rollers 80 at each end is mounted for reciprocalmovement along the carriage way 62 with the rollers 80 contacting theupper cam surfaces 70 and the bottom 74 of the carriage way on each sideof the slot 76. The carriage 78 is provided with laterally extendingguide plates 82, each having wear plates 84 affixed to the outer surfacethereof by means of screws 86. The guide plates 82 project from oppositesides of the body of the carriage 78 and slide along the sidewalls 66 ofthe carriage way 62 thereby preventing lateral displacement of thecarriage.

A tool holder 88 is connected with the bottom of the tool carriage bymeans of bolts 90 and contains a reversible cutting tool 92 which isadapted to contact and cut away the burr B on the inside of the pipe P.The cutting tool 92 is adjustable relative to the tool holder 88 bymeans of a screw 94 and is locked in adjusted position by means ofscrews 96.

As best shown in FIG. 6, a pair of plates 98 are welded to and dependfrom the bottom 74 of the carriage way 62, one on either side of theslot 76. On the bottoms of each of the depending plates 98 is welded ashoe 100 which has an arcuate bottom surface conforming to the contourof the inner wall of the pipe P on either side of the burr B.

The end of the carriage 78 inwardly of the opening of the liner 20 isformed with a bifurcated depending flange 102 which is pivotallyconnected with a piston rod 104 of a hydraulic cylinder 106 by means ofa pin 108. The head end of the cylinder 106 is pivotally connected to apin 110 extending through a suitable opening in the plates 4.

The end portion of the carriage way bottom 74 is provided with aninclined plane 112 one on each side of the slot 76 adjacent the open endof the liner 20 for a purpose which will become more apparenthereinafter.

In operation, cylinder 36 is in its retracted position preparatory tothe advancement of the tool toward a pipe, the interior of the end ofwhich is to be deburred. In this arrangement the platen 44 assumes itsnormal canted position with its right-hand end, as viewed in FIG. 1,resting upon the stop-bar 60 so that the stops 56 on the shoes 54 areelevated above the other portions of the platen 44. The cylinder 106 isactuated to extend its piston rod 104 so that the tool carriage 78 is inextreme left position as viewed by broken lines in FIG. 5 in thecarriage way 62. In this position the left end rollers are on theinclined plane 112 and the left end of the carriage 78 is raised, asviewed in FIG. 5, causing the tool 92 to be lifted out of cuttingposition. With the elements positioned as just described, the frame 2 ismoved along the beam 18 toward the end of pipe P supported to overhangthe end of a suitable table or conveyor (not shown). The pipe P ispositioned with its welded seam down. Forward movement of the frame 2 isarrested when the stops 56 engage the end of the pipe. Cylinder 36 isthen actuated to project the piston 52 to bring shoes 54R and 54L tobear against the outside surface of the pipe astraddle the weld.Cylinder 106 is then actuated to retract the piston rod 104 to draw thetool carriage 78 along the carriage way 62 to trim off the excess burrfrom the interior weld bead.

After this is done the cylinder 36 is actuated to release clampingpressure, the frame 2 is retracted from the pipe by moving it along thebeam 18 and the cylinder 106 is actuated to return the tool carriage 78to start position, as shown by broken lines in FIG. 5, preparatory tothe next de-burring operation.

While we have shown but one embodiment of our invention, otheradaptations and modifications may be made without departing from thescope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for removing the inside burr from a welded pipe comprisinga rigid frame having an open end substantially U-shape opening extendinginwardly from one edge thereof, means connected with said frame forsupporting it for travel in a horizontal plane with the open end of saidU-shape opening extending transversely of the path of travel of saidframe, said U- shape opening being adapted to receive therein the wallof a pipe having an inner burr as said frame is moved longitudinally ofsaid pipe, a pair of first shoe members each having an arcuatecontacting surface conforming to the outer surface of said pipe carriedin spaced relation by said frame for travel to and from said U-shapeopening in a path normal thereto, first power means attached to saidframe and connected with said first pair of shoe members for moving thesame, a tool carriage mounted for reciprocable movement along ahorizontal plane containing the major axis of said U-shape opening andcoincidental with the pathway of said frame, second power means carriedby said frame and connected with said tool carriage for moving the same,a cutting tool adjustably mounted on and projecting from said toolcarriage adapted to engage and cut away the inside burr from said pipewhen said wall of said pipe is received in said U-shape opening and theouter wall of said pipe below said burr is engaged by said first pair ofshoes and said tool carriage is moved longitudinally relative to saidpipe.

2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 including a second pair of spacedsubstantially parallel shoe members projecting from said tool carriageadapted to engage the interior wall of said pipe one adjacent each sideof said burr to thereby clamp said pipe between said first pair of shoemembers and said second pair of shoe members, said second pair of shoemembers each having an arcuate pipe-contacting surface conforming to theinner contour of said pipe.

3. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 including a way extending along saidhorizontal plane containing the major axis of said U-shape opening, saidtool carriage being wheel mounted for reciprocable travel along saidway, said way having a slotted bottom extending therealong for receivingsaid cutting tool projecting from said tool carriage, the end of saidway adjacent the open end of said U-shape opening being elevated aboveits opposite end whereby said cutting tool is raised above said burrwhen said tool carriage is in position adjacent the open end of saidU-shape opening.

4. Apparatus as defined by claim 3 in which said tool carriage isprovided with a flange adjacent the end thereof remote from the open endof said U-shape opening projecting through said slotted bottom of saidway, said second power means being in the form of a fluid pressurecylinder having a piston slidable therein and a piston rod attached tosaid piston and projecting in a path substantially parallel with thepath of travel of said tool carriage, the projecting end of said pistonrod being connected with said flange for reciprocating said toolcarriage along said way.

5. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 in which said first pair of shoemembers is rigidly mounted and projecting upwardly from a platen, saidplaten being mounted on the bottom of said U-shape opening with one endadjacent the open end of said U-shap e opening and its opposite enddisposed inwardly of the open end of said U- shape opening, said platenbeing normally positioned with its said opposite end pivotally cantedabove the level of its end adjacent the open end of said U-shapeopening, said first pair of shoes being attached to and projectingupwardly from said platen, said first pair of shoes each including anupwardly projecting stop portion adapted to engage the edge of said pipeas said apparatus is moved toward the same.

6. Apparatus as defined by claim 5 in which said first power means is inthe form of a pressure fluid cylinder attached to said frame having apiston slidable therein and a piston rod connected with said piston andprojecting from said cylinder, the projecting end of said piston rodbeing pivotally connected with said platen adjacent the end thereofremote from the open end of said U-shape opening, retraction of saidpiston rod effecting canting of said opposite end of said platen and theshoes attached there 0 away from said pipe wall,

and projection of said piston rod effecting upward pivotal canting ofsaid opposite end of said platen and clamping of said pipe wall betweensaid first and second pairs of shoes.

1. Apparatus for removing the inside burr from a welded pipe comprisinga rigid frame having an open end substantially U-shape opening extendinginwardly from one edge thereof, means connected with said frame forsupporting it for travel in a horizontal plane with the open end of saidU-shape opening extending transversely of the path of travel of saidframe, said U-shape opening being adapted to receive therein the wall ofa pipe having an inner burr as said frame is moved longitudinally ofsaid pipe, a pair of first shoe members each having an arcuatecontacting surface conforming to the outer surface of said pipe carriedin spaced relation by said frame for travel to and from said U-shapeopening in a path normal thereto, first power means attached to saidframe and connected with said first pair of shoe members for moving thesame, a tool carriage mounted for reciprocable movement along ahorizontal plane containing the major axis of said U-shape opening andcoincidental with the pathway of said frame, second power means carriedby said frame and connected with said tool carriage for moving the same,a cutting tool adjustably mounted on and projecting from said toolcarriage adapted to engage and cut away the inside burr from said pipewhen said wall of said pipe is received in said U-shape opening and theouter wall of said pipe below said burr is engaged by said first pair ofshoes and said tool carriage is moved longitudinally relative to saidpipe.
 2. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 including a second pair ofspaced substantially parallel shoe members projecting from said toolcarriage adapted to engage the interior wall of said pipe one adjacenteach side of said burr to thereby clamp said pipe between said firstpair of shoe members and said second pair of shoe members, said secondpair of shoe members each having an arcuate pipe-contacting surfaceconforming to the inner contour of said pipe.
 3. Apparatus as defined byclaim 1 including a way extending along said horizontal plane containingthe major axis of said U-shape opening, said tool carriage being wheelmounted for reciprocable travel along said way, said way having aslotted bottom extending therealong for receiving said cutting toolprojecting from said tool carriage, the end of said way adjacent theopen end of said U-shape opening being elevated above its opposite endwhereby said cutting tool is raised above said burr when said toolcarriage is in position adjacent the open end of said U-shape opening.4. Apparatus as defined by claim 3 in which said tool carriage isprovided with a flange adjacent the end thereof remote from the open endof said U-shape opening projecting through said slotted bottom of saidway, said second power means being in the form of a fluid pressurecylinder having a piston slidable therein and a piston rod attached tosaid piston and projecting in a path substantially parallel with thepath of travel of said tool carriage, the projecting end of said pistonrod being connected with said flange for reciprocating said toolcarriage along said way.
 5. Apparatus as defined by claim 1 in whichsaid first pair of shoe members is rigidly mounted and projectingupwardly from a platen, said platen being mounted on the bottom of saidU-shape opening with one end adjacent the open end of said U-shapeopening and its opposite end disposed inwardly of the open end of saidU-shape opening, said platen being normally positioned with its saidopposite end pivotally canted above the level of its end adjacent theopen end of said U-shape opening, said first pair of shoes beingattached to and projecting upwardly from said platen, said first pair ofshoes each including an upwardly projecting stop portion adapted toengage the edge of said pipe as said apparatus is moved toward the same.6. Apparatus as defined by claim 5 in which said first power means is inthe form of a pressure fluid cylinder attached to said frame having apiston slidable therein and a piston rod connected with said piston andprojecting from said cylinder, the projecting end of said piston rodbeing pivotally connected with said platen adjacent the end thereofremote from the open end of said U-shape opening, retraction of saidpiston rod effecting canting of said opposite end of said platen and theshoes attached thereto away from said pipe wall, and projection of saidpiston rod effecting upward pivotal canting of said opposite end of saidplaten and clamping of said pipe wall between said first and secondpairs of shoes.